Famished commuters looted food packets at Itarsi Railway Station in central India on Sunday (May 24th).

Railway officials had arranged food packets for travellers on Shramik Special 186, which arrived at 7 am local time.

But their attempt to distribute food orderly failed when many got down from the train and snatched the packets.

Scuffles also broke out over the food and bread was strewn all over the station platform,

Most of the travellers were hungry and impoverished migrant workers, who were heading back home, after enduring nearly two months of coronavirus lockdown.

Many complained that railway officials had failed to provide them with food and water during an arduous journey covering thousands of kilometres.

India’s strict lockdown has left hundreds of thousands of migrant workers stranded far from home.

Famished commuters looted food packets at Itarsi Railway Station in central India on Sunday (May 24th).

Railway officials had arranged food packets for travellers on Shramik Special 186, which arrived at 7 am local time.

But their attempt to distribute food orderly failed when many got down from the train and snatched the packets.

Scuffles also broke out over the food and bread was strewn all over the station platform,

Most of the travellers were hungry and impoverished migrant workers, who were heading back home, after enduring nearly two months of coronavirus lockdown.

Many complained that railway officials had failed to provide them with food and water during an arduous journey covering thousands of kilometres.

India’s strict lockdown has left hundreds of thousands of migrant workers stranded far from home.